If you’ve been checking your DVR and wondering why the usual February slots look a little empty, you aren't alone. For years, we’ve been conditioned to wait until the tail end of winter for those awkward, hilarious, and sometimes breathtaking first auditions. But the 2026 schedule is throwing a bit of a curveball at everyone.
So, when does American Idol start again? Mark your calendars for Monday, January 26, 2026.
Yeah, you read that right. Monday.
Why the big move to Mondays?
Usually, ABC likes to keep Idol as their Sunday night crown jewel. It makes sense, right? People are home, the weekend is winding down, and everyone wants to see a kid from a small town belt out some Whitney Houston. But for Season 24, the network is shaking things up.
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The premiere is landing on a Monday night at 8/7c. It’s a bold move. Honestly, it feels like they’re trying to dominate the start of the week instead of just owning the end of it. This isn't just a one-off special event, either. The current word from the network is that Monday will be the primary home for the show this winter.
It's actually the earliest premiere we've seen in about a decade. Usually, we're waiting until mid-February or even early March (like last year’s March 9 start). Moving it to late January suggests they want a longer "runway" for these contestants. Or maybe they just know we’re all bored in January and need something to talk about at the water cooler.
The Judging Table stays (mostly) the same
If you were worried about more cast turnover, you can breathe. The "Idol University" theme they’ve been teasing in the promos confirms the gang is back.
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- Carrie Underwood is returning for her second year in the judge's chair. Last season was her big debut taking over for Katy Perry, and she actually held her own. It's kinda poetic seeing the Season 4 winner tell new kids how to handle the pressure.
- Luke Bryan is back to bring the "Professor of Fun" energy.
- Lionel Richie is still the "Professor of Positivity."
- And obviously, Ryan Seacrest is hosting. It wouldn't be Idol without him. At this point, I think he might actually be part of the studio architecture.
Nashville is the new Hollywood
Here is the part that’s actually going to mess with your head: Hollywood Week is basically gone. Well, it’s not gone gone, but it’s not in Hollywood. For the first time in the show’s 24-season history, they are moving the entire middle phase of the competition to Nashville. They’re calling it the "Music City Takeover."
It’s a massive shift. Usually, the "Welcome to Hollywood!" scream from Ryan is the iconic moment of the season. Now, the hopefuls are heading to Tennessee. Producers have teased that this "Music City Takeover" will be way more brutal than the old format.
We're talking about a "one-round only" performance. In previous years, you had the lines of ten, the groups, the solos—it was a marathon. This year? They take the stage once. If the judges aren't feeling it, you’re on a bus home before you even get a chance to see the Grand Ole Opry. It’s being billed as the biggest cut in the history of the show.
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How to watch and what to expect
If you aren't sitting in front of a TV on Monday nights, you’ve still got options.
- ABC Live: The classic way. 8:00 PM EST.
- Hulu: Episodes will drop the next day. If you’re a "watch it on Tuesday morning with coffee" person, this is your lane.
- The Apps: The ABC app and website usually have it, provided you can remember your cable login (which nobody ever can).
Auditions have been happening for months. They did the "Idol Across America" virtual tour again, which basically means people were singing into their MacBooks from their bedrooms in August and September. They even did a weirdly specific in-person audition at CMA Fest in Nashville way back in June.
Is this the "Longest Season Ever?"
There’s a lot of chatter online about the length of this season. If the show starts on January 26 and follows the typical path to a May finale, we are looking at nearly four months of Idol.
That's a lot of singing.
Critics are wondering if the show can sustain that kind of momentum. But with Carrie Underwood finding her groove as a judge and the "Music City" change-up, the producers are clearly trying to keep the format from feeling stale. They want an "event" feel.
If you’re planning on following along, your next step is pretty simple: check your local listings to make sure your ABC affiliate hasn't shifted things, and maybe clear some space on your Monday nights. The "Class of 2026" is about to start, and if the rumors about the Nashville cuts are true, it’s going to be a very short trip for a lot of these singers.